The Great Greene Heist: 08/23/16

The Great Greene Heist by Varian Johnson is about a self proclaimed reformed teenage conman. His last big con made him famous and still has lasting repercussions. The victim of that prank is now running for class president against Jackson Greene's ex-girl friend and things are about to get ugly.

This book and The Terrible Two Get Worse both focus on school election shenanigans. Johnson's book is a little edgier in that there is clear corruption (bribery) on the part of the school administration.

The story is told from multiple points of view, not just Jackson's. It was informative to see his reputation against his own internalized intentions but his internal monologue is the most entertaining of the points of view offered.

Although this is a public school, the heist that Jackson Greene pulls off is on the order of some of the more complex cons of a Rockford Files episode. That part was fun, though it did stretch my own suspension of disbelief to the breaking point. Much of the school is too easy to access after hours, something no school near me would allow. But my local school district isn't representative of all school districts, and it is fun to imagine what secrets lurk after hours.

Four stars

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